Parents with children who have a strong interest in a subject may consider seeking a mentor for their child, either to augment school-based learning or to provide guidance for enrichment courses. Research suggests that a good mentor can be highly beneficial for a student’s intellectual development. A recent study reported that gifted students may be particularly responsive to high-quality mentorship because of their tendency to process information more quickly and easily─a good mentor can pace … [Read more...] about Rethinking Mentorship: It’s More than Scholarship
mentoring
The Benefits of Mentorship
Our son Daniel has always been the type of person to make things happen. He met his mentor, Dr. Sabine Heinhorst, after taking a serious interest in the eighth-grade science fair. Daniel resolved to “be brave” and simply ask Dr. Heinhorst, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), in person if she would help him with his project. At first, Dr. Heinhorst was taken aback by Daniel’s directness and honest interest in science. Since then he has been working in a … [Read more...] about The Benefits of Mentorship
Telementoring: Opportunities for Virtual Mentoring
Your gifted child may have special interests and a desire for knowledge beyond what school, teachers, and you can provide, and you may have decided that she or he is ready for a mentor in a specific area of interest. Although many talented people are willing and able to mentor gifted students, the right mentor for your child may not live in your community. Finding a suitable mentor may present a challenge, particularly if your child has unusual interests or if you live in a sparsely populated … [Read more...] about Telementoring: Opportunities for Virtual Mentoring
Extending Learning through Mentorship
"Mom, you know how the meteorologist on TV talks about the different computer models that predict where a hurricane is going to hit? Well, I asked my teacher about it, but he said I should probably wait to learn more about them in college. How can I see those computer models now?" "Dad, I think I want to be a surgeon, but how will I know if it's right for me?" "Mom, Dad, you know how I love writing stories and have won some contests? How can I get my stories published?" Such questions … [Read more...] about Extending Learning through Mentorship
How to Guide Your Daughter to Success
Of course you’d like your gifted daughter to have a fulfilling career that combines creativity, challenge, and the opportunity to contribute, and you want her to establish a satisfactory family life and relationships. However, glass ceilings and sticky floors continue in nontraditional careers for women. … [Read more...] about How to Guide Your Daughter to Success
Being a Gifted Boy: What We Have Learned
Several months ago the parents of a highly gifted fourth grader, Trent, called me for advice about his development. They expressed considerable concern about his increasing unwillingness, as they put it, “to shine.” Having always performed academic tasks superbly and nonacademic ones reasonably well, Trent was entering the pre-adolescent malaise experienced by many gifted and nongifted children alike. … [Read more...] about Being a Gifted Boy: What We Have Learned
Harnessing Gifted Girls’ Emotional Strengths
Gifted girls encounter unique challenges, particularly during adolescence. With our help, they can learn to transform adversity into opportunity. The keys are information and communication. Here are six springboards for conversation and personal growth that concern gifted adolescent girls. … [Read more...] about Harnessing Gifted Girls’ Emotional Strengths